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Volume 2, No. 41 October 25, 2002 |
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By Ally Jackson Hui-chu Chen’s media and performing arts thesis exhibition titled "Communication Phobia," on display Oct. 26 through Nov. 2 at 301 E. Broughton St., is as much about her fear of communicating with people as it is about installation being a medium for expression. Chen is one of those rare types of thespians who is shy. As difficult as this is for most people to grasp, as actors seem to be inherently drawn to the spotlight, you can imagine how she must feel. Because she is well aware of the platform of attention-grabbing, show-stopping performance on which she must stand, Chen is capturing viewers’ accolades with a unique approach. Chen, who is from Taiwan, attributes her spotlight-shunning to her culture and its difference to that of the Great White Way. While the bustling atmosphere of Broadway calls to most actors, Chen said she feels the lure of the work behind the scenes. Because of this, she chose the burgeoning design track for her media and performing arts concentration and joined that knowledge with her undergraduate work in installation art. "I came to study at SCAD because I felt as if it was a really good place for me," said Chen. "I study the drama and the literature and at the same time keep my ideas of painting." More than gaining information, she became shocked at the differences between Americans and Taiwanese, even in the simplest salutations. "People here in the department are really outgoing and you have to get that combination of being assertive and learning the materials really quick," she said. "It just is not that simple for me to stand up and be heard. It was a lot to become accustomed to." Combining what she saw happening on the stage with her knack for fine arts, her thesis installation becomes a stage in itself, the viewers transformed into the performers. "I wanted to show my personal experience about when I first began in media and performing arts and the difference between design and acting," said Chen. Chen said the nine pieces are modern uses of plastic and materials — a direction for a new era. She uses cool colors and light, with texture and layers in each piece. "The abstract structures of the sculptures imply that the performers hold different volume and attitude," Chen wrote in her artist’s statement. Contrasting the forms are the human players, or viewers, whose curiosity about the work on display is meant to be the interaction intended. "When you go to the exhibition, you have that interaction; it becomes the purpose for communication for me," said Chen. "I hope that through this I can overcome my phobia." |
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